Success! Bethwel from Kenya raised $685 to fund brain surgery.

Bethwel’s surgery to drain was successful. The treatment has stabilized his intra-cranial pressure, minimizing the risk of life-threatening brain stem compression.

“You have come in for me and my son and for that I just can’t thank you enough! Someday I will be in a better financial place and I will give back to this organization thank you,” says Bethwel’s mother.

Bethwel’s surgery to drain was successful. The treatment has stabilized his intra-cranial pressure, minimizing the risk of life-threatening ...

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October 1, 2018

Bethwel is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Bethwel’s parents are subsistence farmers.

Bethwel has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Bethwel has been experiencing an increasing head circumference that is disproportionate to the rest of his body. Without treatment, Bethwel will experience severe physical and developmental delays.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Bethwel that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 2 and will drain the excess fluid from Bethwel’s brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Bethwel will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy.

Bethwel’s mother says, “I long for the day I will see Bethwel normal just like his siblings.”

Bethwel is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Bethwel’s parents are subsistence farmers.
Bethwel has b...

Bethwel received treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Symptoms of hydrocephalus include an enlarged head size, irritability, abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and increased intracranial pressure. Cognitive development can be affected, and damage to the optic nerve can cause blindness.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

In young children, hydrocephalus affects brain development, cognition, and vision. In older children and adults, hydrocephalus also causes headaches.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

The burden of infant hydrocephalus in East Africa is significant, with more than 6,000 new cases estimated per year. The majority are caused by neonatal infection and vitamin deficiency, and should thus be preventable. In East Africa, the single most common cause of hydrocephalus is infection, usually via neonatal meningitis or ventriculitis. Neonatal sepsis is common and is exacerbated by the lack of skilled perinatal care for the majority of births in Africa.

Process

Impact on patient's life

Risks and side-effects

Accessibility

Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Hydrocephalus patients are usually treated within a few days of arriving at the hospital. Fortunately, our medical partner can accept many patients who would otherwise go home if they could not afford the surgery cost. Treatment involves inserting a shunt into the brain to route cerebrospinal fluid to another part of the body. One month after surgery, the patient returns for a follow-up appointment.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This surgery is lifesaving. The patient will no longer be at risk of cognitive and vision damage. Surgical treatment for hydrocephalus can restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This condition is treatable, though the outcome depends on how quickly the disease is identified and treated.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition. With about one neurosurgeon per 10,000,000 people in East Africa, initial treatment for hydrocephalus is often unavailable.